Iraq Unveils Strategic Plan to Double Oil Production Capacity
At a Glance:
- Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi directed energy authorities to expand total oil capacity to approximately 10 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2030.
- The strategic plan mandates complete utilization of associated gas to fulfill domestic power demand and end reliance on external gas imports.
- The government directed a formal increase in output from fields across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq alongside expanded exploration blocks.
- The Ministry of Oil was instructed to organize a major international conference to attract foreign capital, technology, and execution capabilities.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday alongside Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani, Finance Minister Taif Sami, and key senior advisors to review the nation’s strategic energy blueprint for 2027–2030. Highlighting that national output must align with Iraq’s vast reserves and growing population, Al-Zaidi issued executive directives aimed at elevating crude production capacity to 10 million bpd by 2030 while eliminating natural gas flaring.
Key Statements and Focus Area:
- Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi:
"Iraq’s oil production should correspond directly with its reserves, petroleum potential, and population size, enabling the state to meet citizens' needs and structural development requirements." - Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi (on Gas and International Investment):
"Efforts must be fully focused on utilizing associated gas to satisfy domestic energy demands, curb financial waste, and achieve complete independence from foreign gas imports."
2027–2030 Strategic Energy Framework
| Strategic Objective | Implementation Directive | Target Timeline / Capacity |
| National Oil Capacity | Accelerate exploration, field upgrades, and basin expansion. | ~10 Million BPD by 2030 |
| Kurdistan Region Fields | Increase production volumes and expand exploration blocks. | Integrated into national target |
| Associated Gas Capture | Capture domestic gas to replace imports for power generation. | Complete import independence |
| Foreign Direct Investment | Convene a global energy conference for field development contracts. | Multi-year licensing & expansion |
Infrastructure Upgrades and Regional Field Production
The Prime Minister emphasized that achieving the 10 million bpd threshold requires an immediate, parallel overhaul of Iraq's midstream and export infrastructure. In addition to expanding exploration across unallocated blocks, the administration called for accelerating field development within the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to ensure coordinated contribution toward national output targets.
Global Licensing Push and Energy Independence
To fund the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure expansion, the Ministry of Oil has been tasked with organizing a landmark international conference. Baghdad aims to draw leading global energy majors to secure binding exploration, production, and export logistics contracts. Concurrently, capturing associated gas remains a core economic pillar designed to eliminate costly power sector import dependencies and channel domestic resources into long-term infrastructure.
FYI
By establishing an ambitious 10 million bpd target alongside a foreign investment drive, PM Al-Zaidi is positioning energy expansion as the primary engine for domestic recovery and state revenue growth. Integrating Kurdistan field expansion into federal master planning further signals a shift toward institutional coordination, aiming to secure long-term fiscal stability amid shifting global energy dynamics.
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